Abdul Malik Mydin
Encyclopedia
Dato Abdul Malik Mydin is a Malaysian solo long-distance swimmer
, hailing from Penang
. He was notable as the first Malaysian and Southeast Asia
n to swim across the English Channel
on August 3, 2003, successfully completing the journey in 17 hours and 42 minutes.
in Switzerland
in August 2002, among 22 international swimmers.
Malik had also conducted several solo swims locally, including swims between Penang
and the mainland (7.8 km to 12 km), Pulau Besar
to Mersing
(18 km), and Kuala Perlis
to Kuah
(48 km, in 14 hours)
in May 2003, setting a target of 18 hours to swim 32.8 km from England to France in July or August, and receiving coaching and advise from John van Wisse, an Australia
n coach. The swim was initially delayed to late-July due to weather, and was finally organised on August 3.
During preparations of the cross channel swim, Malik was originally intended to start from Shakespeare Beach, but was advise by navigator Mike Oram to start from Abbots Beach in Dover
, England
. The cross channel swim saw Malik flagged off at Abbots Beach at 2.02am, local time (9.02am, Malaysian time, August 3), stroking at a consistent pace and stopping only for feeds at 20 minute intervals.
Malik reached Cap Gris Nez
in Calais
, France
at 8.42pm French time (7.42pm, British time; 2.42am Malaysian time, August 4), completing the swim in 17 hours and 42 minutes, just 18 minutes less Malik's 18 hour target. He claimed that windy weather during the last kilometres of his swim hampered attempts to finish his swim hours earlier.
He was hailed by supporters as a national hero upon his return to Malaysia on August 9. However his record lasted less than a year, and was broken on 13 July 2004 by fellow Malaysian, 20 year old Lennard Lee who swam the channel in 9 hours and 45 minutes
limousine
services.
Long-distance swimming
The distances that distinguish long distance swimming from ordinary swimming are those distances that are longer than are typically swum in pool competitions. When a given swim calls more on endurance than outright speed, the more likely it is to be considered a long distance swim...
, hailing from Penang
Penang
Penang is a state in Malaysia and the name of its constituent island, located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia by the Strait of Malacca. It is bordered by Kedah in the north and east, and Perak in the south. Penang is the second smallest Malaysian state in area after Perlis, and the...
. He was notable as the first Malaysian and Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
n to swim across the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
on August 3, 2003, successfully completing the journey in 17 hours and 42 minutes.
Athletic career
Abdul Malik was a relatively athletic swimmer, who finished fifth in a 26 km race across Lake ZurichLake Zurich
Lake Zurich is a lake in Switzerland, extending southeast of the city of Zurich. It is also known as Lake Zürich and Lake of Zürich. It lies approximately at co-ordinates ....
in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
in August 2002, among 22 international swimmers.
Malik had also conducted several solo swims locally, including swims between Penang
Penang
Penang is a state in Malaysia and the name of its constituent island, located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia by the Strait of Malacca. It is bordered by Kedah in the north and east, and Perak in the south. Penang is the second smallest Malaysian state in area after Perlis, and the...
and the mainland (7.8 km to 12 km), Pulau Besar
Pulau Besar (Johor)
Besar Island is an island off the east coast of Johor, Malaysia. It is accessible by boat from Mersing town...
to Mersing
Mersing
Mersing is a town in Mersing District in the northeast corner of the state of Johor, Malaysia.Mersing town is a lively tourist town visited by Malaysians and foreign tourists....
(18 km), and Kuala Perlis
Kuala Perlis
Kuala Perlis is the second largest town and the main port of Perlis in Malaysia. It is in extreme northwest Peninsular Malaysia, near the border with Thailand. The older part of town has houses and mosques built on stilts over mangrove swamps....
to Kuah
Kuah
Kuah is a town and district capital of Langkawi, Kedah, and is the entry point for those coming by ferry from either the mainland or Penang Island. The town is centered on its jetty, which brings in flocks of tourists each year who come to enjoy the shopping and other attractions of Langkawi...
(48 km, in 14 hours)
English Channel swim
Abdul Malik announced his intention to swim across the English ChannelEnglish Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
in May 2003, setting a target of 18 hours to swim 32.8 km from England to France in July or August, and receiving coaching and advise from John van Wisse, an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n coach. The swim was initially delayed to late-July due to weather, and was finally organised on August 3.
During preparations of the cross channel swim, Malik was originally intended to start from Shakespeare Beach, but was advise by navigator Mike Oram to start from Abbots Beach in Dover
Dover
Dover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The cross channel swim saw Malik flagged off at Abbots Beach at 2.02am, local time (9.02am, Malaysian time, August 3), stroking at a consistent pace and stopping only for feeds at 20 minute intervals.
Malik reached Cap Gris Nez
Cap Gris Nez
Cap Gris Nez is a cape on the Côte d'Opale in the Pas-de-Calais département in northern France....
in Calais
Calais
Calais is a town in Northern France in the department of Pas-de-Calais, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Although Calais is by far the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, the department's capital is its third-largest city of Arras....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
at 8.42pm French time (7.42pm, British time; 2.42am Malaysian time, August 4), completing the swim in 17 hours and 42 minutes, just 18 minutes less Malik's 18 hour target. He claimed that windy weather during the last kilometres of his swim hampered attempts to finish his swim hours earlier.
He was hailed by supporters as a national hero upon his return to Malaysia on August 9. However his record lasted less than a year, and was broken on 13 July 2004 by fellow Malaysian, 20 year old Lennard Lee who swam the channel in 9 hours and 45 minutes
Present life
He now serves as the chairman of Airport Limo Malaysia, which provides airportAirport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
limousine
Limousine
A limousine is a luxury sedan or saloon car, especially one with a lengthened wheelbase or driven by a chauffeur. The chassis of a limousine may have been extended by the manufacturer or by an independent coachbuilder. These are called "stretch" limousines and are traditionally black or white....
services.
See also
- Azhar MansorAzhar MansorDatuk Azhar Mansor is the first Malaysian to sail solo around the world.He made his trip in 1999, sailing the ship called Jalur Gemilang.His round the world trip, with stops, took 190 days, 6hours 57 minutes 2 seconds...